Epic and Google have settled on a new proposal that could allow Android users far greater choice over third party app stores and payments.
The agreement follows on from the US court injunction from last month which opens up the Play Store to alternative payments and link-outs, and layers on top additional policies designed to encourage app store competition. Google and Epic’s proposal, if accepted, will run until 2032 and will also be applicable worldwide, not just in the US.
According to the court documents, the settlement also prohibits Google from striking exclusivity deals with other companies for content and pre-installed apps. Most importantly for Epic, Google has agreed to make changes to Android so that users can “seamlessly download and install certain third-party stores”.
“This remedy addresses the install frictions that Epic contended at trial to be a major competitive challenge for rival app stores,” the document continues. Third party stores on Android will need to meet certain criteria as ‘registered app stores’ to benefit from the new policy.
“The parties have agreed on the streamlined installation flow that would apply to Registered App Stores and apps from such stores. These modifications will give new or existing app stores that meet safety and security standards a straightforward, low-friction way to get onto users’ devices. And those stores would all compete globally with each other and with the Google Play store for users and for developers, enhancing competition in the Android App Distribution Market.”
The modified injunction put forward by Epic and Google also references maximum commission fees of either 9% or 20%, depending on the type on content bought, on transactions in Play-distributed apps and ones that use alternative payment options.
We have asked Google to clarify under what circumstances these fees are applied as they are not clear currently. We will update this article if it provides a clarifying statement.
Google and Epic put forward the proposals as of yesterday, and the US court will take a look and ask questions at a hearing scheduled for tomorrow, November 6.
Posting on X, Tim Sweeney said: “Google has made an awesome proposal, subject to court approval, to open up Android in the US Epic v Google case and settle our disputes. It genuinely doubles down on Android’s original vision as an open platform to streamline competing store installs globally, reduce service fees for developers on Google Play, and enable third-party in-app and web payments.”
He continued: “This is a comprehensive solution, which stands in contrast to Apple’s model of blocking all competing stores and leaving payments as the only vector for competition.”
Also on X, Google’s Sameer Samat added: “Exciting news! Together with Epic Games we have filed a proposed set of changes to Android and Google Play that focus on expanding developer choice and flexibility, lowering fees, and encouraging more competition all while keeping users safe. If approved, this would resolve our litigations. We look forward to discussing further with the Judge on Thursday.”
